Hey gang, greetings from the sticks of Western MD. First I have to thank Raineman, an old high school bud, for the idea of the Trad Gang site. I started out in 1980 or 1981 shooting my Dad's old 40# Ben Pearson Colt recurve...the archery bug had bit me. He then got me a Browning wheelie for a birthday gift. My Dad however continued to shoot the #48 Bear Grizzly my Mom had bought him new in 1966 (I think). Many years have gone by since those early 1980s. My dad used to joke with me about what I called his "Popsicle stick" bow (because his Bear was so light vs a compound). I'd always reply that I liked venison too much to go to trad gear.
Well, many compounds later I got a 55# Great Plains "Red River" recurve as a gift from someone. My Dad, like usual, started to tease me again about trad archery. I'd laugh and we'd cut up about it. Flash forward to 2009 and I hook up with Jim (Raineman) for a reunion hunt. One thing led to another and next thing I know, Jim crafted a new string for my Dad's 40+ year old Bear. He also shot my Red River naming it a "hammer!"
On March 10, 2011 my Dad went home to be with The Lord. It was very unexpected just flooring our entire family. That 2011-2012 hunting season just wasn't the same without Dad. Even though he had given up bow hunting, we still rifle and muzzle loader hunted together. But my heart just wasn't in it. I swore to myself that I would force myself to hunt like I once did in the recently ended 2012-2013 season. I shot my wheelie last summer like I hadn't in years. I tinkered with the trad gear but I respect the animals we hunt too much to use them as a pin cushion (as my Dad used to say).
Now...I think the time has come for me to concentrate on my recurves. My goal for the upcoming 2013-2014 season is to kill a deer with my Dad's Bear Grizzly. I know I'll need to shoot....a LOT to be proficient like I once was out to 20 yards or so.
So bear (no pun intended...lol) with me as I belly flop into the world of traditional archery! I look forward to learning a lot from this forum and the folks that make it as "interesting" as it looks to be!
Respectfully...Matt
Topic: Semi-Newbie From Western Maryland (Read 542 times)
